rmit university student union: fourth quarter report ░ reporting period: 1 october – 31 december 2015 su.rmit.edu.au rusupage rmitsu rmit_rusu rusuonline ░ president's report What an exciting end to 2015. With the student union elections in September we have a new cohort of representatives ready and committed to furthering the rights and wellbeing of RMIT’s students. I have been given the honour of leading these exceptional young people and I look forward to the coming year with a sense of hope and pride, because I know we will Ariel continue to deliver on our promises ZOHAR and make RMIT a better place for all its students. The new reps began their year as representatives in November, and so the last two months of the year were a time of planning, discussion, and energy as budgets were prepared, ideas thrown around, and new proposals considered. On a personal level, I have been hard at work with general secretary Abena Dove, office bearers, and various staff members, developing RUSU’s 2016 strategic priorities. This is an important step in ensuring the student union has firm, attainable goals and objectives that give our efforts focus and motivation. In December I had the honour of attending the 2015 RMIT graduation ceremony at Etihad Stadium, and what a night it was! It was fantastic to see so many students and their families celebrating the wonderful achievements of RMIT’s (now) alumni. RUSU also had the chance to visit our fellow students in Vietnam, and meetings with the RMIT Vietnam Student Council strengthened ties and allowed us to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas. As we head into a new academic year, RUSU is well placed to build on the incredible efforts of our 2015 representatives. Ariel Zohar President RMIT University Student Union Dance floor fun at RUSU’s End of Exams Party: EOX - The 90s Edit fourth quarter report 2015 activities and volunteers The final quarter saw continued growth for the RUSU Volunteer events Program. The extension of operating hours at Realfoods enjoyed further support from existing and newly recruited volunteers, making 2015 a record year for hours worked. This ░ Standout Events is a very satisfying outcome for RUSU and we continue to be Footy Colours Pub Crawl available to act as referees for volunteers seeking part-time RUSU invited students to celebrate the extra special AFL Grand and casual work, particularly within the hospitality sector. Final public holiday with a Football Colours Pub Crawl through The annual report to LEAD was submitted with 160 RUSU the northern end of the CBD. Students received an official Pub volunteers having completed the criteria of fifteen hours Crawl t-shirt with their ticket purchase as well as free food, minimum volunteering and five hours minimum training. This drinks, karaoke and entry into Lucky Thursdays. More than 25 figure represents a significant percentage (approx 18%) of students attended this event. volunteering across all RMIT. End of Exams Party – The 90s Edit The end of year appreciation event was held at Luna Park this The Activities Department final event for 2015 was the end year. It was very well attended and a great opportunity to gain of exams party held on November 12. This event was held feedback from volunteers about their experience over the last at Platform One in the CBD, and saw around 700 students year. It was fantastic to learn that 100% of those surveyed celebrating the end of another academic year. said they put their volunteering experience on their resume. They also told us that there are two main reasons why they volunteered with us, mainly to meet nice people and gain work ░ Membership experience. They all said they are very likely to tell others about The final tally for 2015 was 5301 financial members. RUSU our program and the only recommended improvement was has set itself a goal of 7,500 financial members for 2016. more volunteer recognition events. The recruitment and placement strategy plan for 2016 Bundoora volunteers was developed over this quarter. Preparations for recruiting volunteers for the Bundoora Realfoods cafe and the BBQ/breakfasts will be put into place early February. This quarter also saw the continuation of a wonderful partnership with Certificate 1 Work Education Students at Brunswick campus. ░ volunteer hours worked in 2015 During the final quarter, RUSU volunteers contributed more than 1645 working hours to RUSU services, bring the total hours for EOX: The 90s Edit the year to date to 5175 hours. ░ rusu volunteers professional development Final Quarter 2015 Year to Recruitment Oct–Dec date Number of students registering their interest to volunteer during 0 527 third quarter Training Completions Volunteers inducted 0 326 Volunteers trained in Safe Food RUSU Volunteers take over Luna Park 0 167 Handling Level 1 Volunteers trained in RSA 0 164 Volunteers trained in Youth 0 22 Mental Health First Aid Volunteers trained in Community 0 52 First Aid su.rmit.edu.au rusupage rmitsu rmit_rusu rusuonline 3 rmit university student union across the campuses ░ City ░ Carlton Both RUSU information counters at building 5 and 57 The Carlton Building 57 office experiences it’s ‘peak’ busy functioned as important information and contact points for period with regards to student rights enquires. Many students RMIT students this quarter. October, November and December who have received their final/exam marks come to the front proved to be very busy months, with hundreds of students counter seeking a group session for appealing a mark or seeking student rights advice and advocacy, and accessing present with a case of show cause. This is an extremely busy RUSU services. The admin volunteer program continued to be time for the front counter service (and the student rights successful, with 10 volunteers staffing the building 5 office service) as a whole. The phone, email and face to face drop in during the peak periods of the day. This program provides service are all accessible for students and are managed by the RUSU volunteers with experience in administration and liaison officers. student-focused customer service. We look forward to offering this program in Building 57 in 2016. ░ Bundoora (east & west) City Chill ‘n’ Grill The fourth quarter has seen a number of new and exciting RUSU celebrated the last two city Chill ‘n’ Grills for the year developments on the Bundoora campus. The weekly welfare by switching up the menu and collaborating with both internal breakfasts and Chill ‘n’ Grill events at Bundoora East and and external departments. As outlined in more detail below, West have continued to grow in popularity, with long lines the week 11 event was themed as 1000 Paper Cranes and of students waiting their turn for food every week. We have partnered with the Welfare Department’s Stress Less Week, received lots of positive feedback from students about their the RMIT Japan Club and Global Mobility. enjoyment of these weekly events, including the themed Chill The last Chill ‘n’ Grill for the year was celebrated in style with ‘n’ Grill events (with Japanese pancakes and nachos among a food truck providing the students with a free lunch rather other international foods), and Stress Less Week, which than our usual BBQ. This gave RUSU’s hardworking volunteers featured a petting zoo, and free ice cream on a beautiful an opportunity to partake in the weekly fun, particularly as we Spring day. These events are great for student experience and provided both volunteers and students with water guns to cool engagement at Bundoora and increase student awareness of down in the 30-degree heat. the services, support and advocacy that RUSU offers students. We look forward to continuing and growing these events on 1000 Paper Cranes Event campus in 2016. 1000 Paper Cranes descended upon Alumni Courtyard on Another exciting event this quarter was the Eid celebration the on the October 8 to celebrate a very special Chill ‘n’ Grill. held by the Bundoora Islamic Society at Bundoora West. The Collaborating with the Welfare Department’s Stress Less event featured henna, a hijab stall, calligraphy, sweets and Week, the RMIT Japan Club and RMIT Global Mobility, this pizza and was a great success. In further developments, the event promoted Japanese culture, exchange opportunities in Bundoora queer students got a computer for the queer lounge, Japan and the Asian region well as overall student well-being. providing a safe place to study and surf the net. To theme the free weekly lunch, RUSU provided okonomiyaki 2016 is set to be an exciting year at Bundoora, with the new (Japanese pancake) instead of our normal snags in bread. The on-site student accommodation as well as the Realfoods café hardworking students from the Japan Club handmade each opening at Bundoora West. We are excited to offer students of the paper cranes and the Global Mobility team provided a second café option on campus, with vegan and vegetarian information booklets regarding exchange opportunities and options. There has only been one café in operation at oversized sumo wrestling suits for students to enjoy. As Bundoora West since Café 251 closed at the end of Semester this event was held during Stress Less Week, the Welfare 1, 2015. To raise awareness of this exciting event, we ran a Department also provided a very popular petting zoo as well as free lunch event at Bundoora West so that students could other fantastic de-stressing giveaways. sample the vegan wraps and salads that will be on offer at Not only did students enjoy the change in food but they were Realfoods in 2016. Student feedback about the food was all also provided with a number of ways to de-stress, have fun and positive, with many vegetarian, vegan and health-conscious enjoy student life in the last week of semester before SWOTVAC.